Environmental Science: Towards a Sustainable Future

Dr. Wright's text has really become a classic of the environmental science field for good reason: it elucidates the basic principles of environmental science with depth and readability. This tome is not in its 10th edition because it lacks merit. On the contrary, this text presents the relevant topics in a more organized and rigorous manner than any other on the shelf. Students gain a fundamental grounding in the topics and issues of this emerging field, no mean task considering their great breadth.

The reviewers who have rated this book poorly have done so largely based on personal political doctrine. These people have missed the point. If Dr. Wright (or any other scientist) expresses distate for the current administration's stance on environmental issues, it is precisely because this administration has ignored and censored valid science in furthering their political agenda. Dr. Wright is merely advocating that the existing science be examined fairly and openly so that we can deal with pressing environmental issues like global climate change in the best possible manner.

Bottom line: a great introduction to environmental science, but not pleasant reading for members of the flat earth society.

I have been using this book for an online environmental science class for six years and for in-person classes before that. The students find it to be very readable and engaging. I've reviewed many other books and found that they never measure up to this textbook. As another evaluator noted, it's a great resource. I also teach science to environmental lawyers, who can use this book for a quick review of a topic.

I used this book to write essays for school and online tests. GREAT book, a must own for its category!

This book is sadly out-of-date and useful only to those new to biology. The concepts are questionable and Mr. Wright doesn't provide any factual basis for his opinions despite his own strong feelings about "sound science" versus "junk science." For example, most scientists have agreed for over a decade that Natural Selection is too simplistic, and yet the book is based on its principles with no attempt to study them in depth.

"Facts" are thrown out with little reference to studies, competing studies or information about the political leanings of the scientists who conducted the research. Some studies are bashed and a counter-study is presented, and yet the reader is given no reason or understanding about why Wright supports one study over another. It all becomes a he-said/she-said argument. The moral of this book: humans suck. Whether or not that is true, I'd appreciate some sound scientific evidence to support, and I would expect that a book about environmental SCIENCE would be able to point out a sound reason or two.

It is a workbook and not what I was attempting to order. I expected a reading/learning media. This is only for use in classroom setting.